MIGNEX holds agenda-setting academic conference

In June, MIGNEX convened over 100 migration scholars from around the world for a conference on the links between migration, development and policy.

Over the course of 8 sessions and two days; delegates explored research by MIGNEX and leading scholars on topics across the migration policy space; ranging from aid, development and migration; governance; remittances; migration causes; drivers and aspirations; policies and preferences. 

Participants noted that the MIGNEX Conference offered a comprehensive exploration of the links between migration, development, and policy. Discussions were particularly valuable for their nuanced analysis of how development aid and political agendas shape migration patterns, often with minimal effect on actual migration reduction.

The need to reconsider traditional migration theories and exploring under-researched areas, highlighting the need for more localised, context-specific policy approaches, was clear – and inspiring.   

To close the conference, we held a session on the 'past and future of migration studies'. It emphasised the need for scholars to be open to challenge existing biases and step beyond well-established concepts of North-South and South-South migration, either by taking inspiration from adjacent fields or by looking deeper into their own disciplines.

As scholars embrace lessons from past research, fill in gaps through geographical focus expansion, new methodology and diverse analytical frameworks, the future of this field is one filled with opportunities. 

Explore the full agenda here, and all MIGNEX research at mignex.org.